Invalid-lounge



(No Model.)

A. J. MODONAL-D.

INVALID LOUNGE.

No. 263,345. Patented Aug. 29, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHIBALD J. MCDONALD, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

INVALID-LOUNGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 263,345, dated August29, 1882,

Application filed June 21, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD J. MoDoN- ALD, a citizen of Canada,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid-Lounges; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertaiiis to make and use the same, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in invalid-lounges, wherebythey may be better adapted for curing certain specific discases.

The objects of my invention are to produce a lounge for invalids whichmay be operated to change the position of the patient to any requiredextent int'acilitating the means of cure in diseases for which it may beused; also, to have such mechanism adapted specially to be operated bythe patient himself without the aid of an attendant; also, to constructa lounge which can easily be manipulated by the patient, even inadvanced stages of the disease, and which admits of a variety of changesin form to suit the wants of the patient in changing his position.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved lounge when extended.Fig.2 is a perspective view of the same changed to allow of ahalf-recumbent position. Fig. 3 is a view of the same in the positionused by consumptive patients in discharging pus collections from thelungs. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view (from the under side of the top) ofthe adjusting device and its connections in the pivoted section. Fig. 5is a cross-section through a part of the top side rail and guide-rail onone side of the foot or sliding section of the lounge. Fig. 6 is anenlarged view, in cross-section, of the revolublehead-rest andattachments, showin g also a cross-section of that part of the end ofthe lounge-top to which it is attached.

A is the lounge, which is constructed with an under frame-work notunlike that of ordinary lounges, except that near the middle anintermediate standard 011 either side supports the inner ends of theshort top rails, 11, (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5,) and an open space isleft a, to protect the edges and to serve in part for making theconnections at the joined ends of the sections. The top of thelounge,which embodies the main features of my improvement, is made inthree sections, a, b, and 0. These are connected at their ends (underthe covering) by leaf-hinges n, as shown in the detail, Fig. 4,

which represents the under side of abroken section, a, and a part ofsection b hinged thereto. Section at is pivoted in the top of theleg-standards m of the frame B upon a cross-piece, 6, fastened acrossthe under side of the section transversely thereto. The pivots at theends of the cross-piece have their bearings at the top of the standardsm on the inside, and permit this section to be tilted in eitherdirection, when desired, by the patient throwing the weight of the bodyupon either side of the pivot-line. Section at is hinged to the end ofthe middle section, b, and the end where it connects with it is roundedto make a snug joint with the connected end of b, which is grooved outto fit the bead on the end of a, making a joint that will not catch theclothing or get out of order. Joint 2 is made in the same manner, thehinge in each being placed at a little distance within the edge of thetop board in order to allow the cloth used in upholstcrin g to be tackedalong the edges. Section at is wholly supported upon its pivotalbearings. Section bis unsupported, except at its hinged connections withc and c, which receive the weight of the body or any portion of thepatient resting upon this section. Section 0 is supported entirely upontwo short side rails, 12, at the top of frame l5,which extend on eitherside from the middle standard, p, to the back end of the frame. Theseside rails have an undercut shoulder or rabbeted notch throughout theirlength, (see Fig. 5,) and the side rails of the top a, at the points I),are also rabbeted to form a groove, with a tongue, I), extending underthe one formed on" the side rails, 11. This allows section cto slide onthe top ofrails b, and the grooved rails preventanylateraldisplacementofthissection. When hinge 1 is bent either upwardor downward the section 0 slides either backward or forward, as theangle formed by the joint approaches or recedes from ahorizontal line.In the manner of supporting the several sections of my improved loungeit differs entirely from that used in lounges of the same class. Inthose heretofore used the sections are supported upon inside rails ofthe frame and have their connections bearing upon the rails when tilted.In lounges of this kind a lever is used of considerable length, and theangle made by the connected sections is produced (in degree) by apivotedcam operated under the connected parts requiring elevation. This mode ofoperating requires the services of an attendant, which in my improvementcan be dispensed with. The section a, when tilted to any desired degreeofinclination,is fastened by a selfoperating latch, engaging with holesor with teeth in a scgment,f, (seen in the tigures,) extending aroundthe pivot on one side'of the lounge at thetop of standard m. This latchk is of angular shape, (see Fig. 4,) and is pivoted at the angle by apivot,p. The weight of the lever end 7., which is provided with aknobhandle, causes it to operate by gravity in engaging with the holesin the rack. (Seen in the several figures.) Other-equivalent devices maybe used; and I do not confine myself to the specific construction hereinshown for locking the tilting section a in position, as the main objectof this part of my improvement is to have it made so as to be easilyoperated in disengaging the locking parts by the patient himself withoutassistance, and to manipulate the lounge in the manner described. In theenlarged view, Fig. 4, as well as in the other figures, it will benoticed that the latch is placed within easy reach of the patient usingthe lounge.

In operating my improved lounge for the cure of patients suffering frompulmonary disease it is provided with a detachable head-rest, d. (Shownattached in Figs. 1, 3, and 6.) In the latter figure it is shown incross-section. This rest consists of a pair of arms, a, supporting ahollow upholstered roller, pivoted upon a rod, i, extending from one tothe other at their top ends, making it adjustable to allow it to turnslightly as the patients head islowered with the head end of section a,the object of the adj ustability being to have the roller adapt itselfto the partial shift of the head forward as the forehead presses uponit. Metal lugs 0' we tend from arms 0 through slot 0 inside the endrail, 1', on the upper side, and curved braces e have an end bearingunderneath upon the bottom board diagonally opposite. Lugs c are firstinserted and the rest pushed outward. This fastening deviceis simple andallows the rest to be easily and quickly detached by throwing the topend of the restforward, as seen in the dotted lines, Fig. 6, thusreleasing the hook j from below and allowing the rest to be lifted out.The object of the head-rest d is to have a suitable rest for the headwhen the patient islying upon the lounge as changed to the form seen inFig.3, with the head end tilted down. In this form, which is necessaryfor discharging the pus accumulations, the patient lies face downward,with the forehead resting upon the roller, which is stuffed to make iteasy and comfortable, the hands grasp the two side rails of a, the trunklying on the latter, with the thighs resting upon b, the angle 1 fittinginto the bend of the hips, and the knees fitting down into the innerangle, 2. In this position the tendency of the purulent discharge fromthe lungs, being downward, is easily thrown off in a few minutes by thecoughing that ensues from the irritation caused by the pus seeking itsway out by gravitation. The space between the roller and the head-rail1' allows the patient to discharge, in a suitable vessel placed beneath,the pus thrown off or spit up.

Another longer head-rest, d, (seen in the view Fig. 2,) is used for apatient sitting in a half-recumbent posture. It is in form like asection of a chair-back or end of a sofa, and is upholstered to matchthe lounge. It is provided with lugs and hook braces similar to those onthe head rest (I, and is attached. and detached in the same manner. Theposition of the patient when the lounge is in the form shown in thisfigure gives him rest from both lying and sitting, as the knees and legsare raised, while the hips are lowered. This position is particularlyadapted to the treatment of diseases of the urinary organs and foroperations upon the same.

I do not confine myself to this invention as solely for invalid uses, asit can be as well adapted to the use of families and of professional menwhose sedentary habits confine them in their duties and prevent themfrom taking out-of-door exercise, as by its use a rest and change ofposition can be had, which is sometimes highly beneficial.

I claim as my invention 1. In an invalid-lounge, a top consisting ofthree sections hinged together, and having its head section supportedupon pivoted journals, whereby its connected sections are made to assumethe positions required by tilting of said head-section, substantially asset forth.

2. A lounge for the use of invalids and for other purposes, having itstop sections flexibly connected, one of said sections being pivoted insuch manner as to adapt it to be operated, in connection with the othersections attached thereto, by the weight of the body, and provided withan automatic locking device for securing said sections in adjustment,substantially as set forth.

3. A lounge for the use of invalids and for other purposes, the top ofwhich is constructed in three sections flexibly connected together, thehead-section thereof being pivoted to the top of the frame-standards insuch manner as to allow it to be tilted to any required degree ofinclination toward either side of its bearings, and having thefoot-section supported upon horizontal guide-rails, the intermediatesection, between the head and foot sections,

being unsupported except at its connected ends, the whole of saidsections adapted to be operated by the weight of the body thereon inconforming them to the positions shown and specified through themovements of the pivoted section, as set forth.

4. In a lounge constructed with separate sections flexibly connectedtogether, and having the head or operative section pivoted in the mannerdescribed, the combination, with said section, of an adjustablehead-rest applied thereto and made detachable therefrom, as set forth.

5. In an invalid-lounge adapted to be operated as described, adetachable head-rest havin ga pivoted self-adjustable roller, as setforth.

6. In a lounge having its sections flexibly connected together, andadapted to be operated in the manner and for the purpose set forth, adetachable head-rest for attaching to the head-section of the lounge,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARGHIBALD J. MCDONALD.

Witnesses:

B. O. OoNvERsE, F. H. PENFIELD.

